Starting Kindergarten

Riley was so nervous about starting kindergarten that she wouldn't let me take a proper "first day" photo. Instead, I snapped these on the sly in our elevator and on the train ride to school.

But don't worry. By day two, joy displaced the apprehension. Funny how a friend and a bucket of dirt can work wonders like that.

Viva kindergarten!

The Graduate

Today was Riley's last day of preschool.

I'll admit, it had me feeling surprisingly sentimental. It's almost ridiculous how much she's learned and matured this year. Also, it makes me feel kinda old. And jealous that, with the onset of kindergarten, Riley will become totally immersed in the learning phase of life. A phase that, nine years post college, I feel far removed from.

But then I read this quote: "In youth we learn, in age we understand."

I had a little epiphany. I realized that instead of growing old and intellectually stale, I get to enjoy double-benefits: vicarious learning and age-acquired understanding.

So a huge congrats to Riley for graduating preschool. And a tiny congrats to me for passing Acquiring Understanding, Lesson 1.

Another Smile-Related Milestone

The holey grin.

First Day of School

Here's Riley on her first day of preschool. She was so excited that it didn't even bother her when I broke to her the news that Zelf wasn't invited.

Summer: The Abridged Version

One of life's little ironies is that when there's a lot to blog about, there's so little time for blogging.

We have been so darn busy maximizing our fun this summer that I've got this backlog of blog entry ideas that, let's be honest, I'm just never going to get to.

So instead, here are the ClifsNotes highlights of our past few weeks:

• Riley's joint birthday party with her friends Anna and Vivian, who all celebrated birthdays within a week of each other.
• The Sesame Street cupcakes my friends Ginger, Lissie, and I made for the joint birthday party.
• Riley's three-year checkup, during which I learned that shots don't faze Riley at all if they're quickly followed by a bandaid.
• Portland's heat wave: A week of 100-plus degree weather. No a/c. Bleh.
• The mobile Matt, our new employee Ben, and I stayed up 'til 2 a.m. finishing just before deadline.
  
• Our trip to Salt Lake City to visit Grandma & Grandpa, Riley's cousins (who were in town from Houston), Matt's extended family, my sisters, and a few good friends.
• Riley's birthday party #3, thrown by Matt's mom and sisters.
• Lots of fun activities during out trip.
  
• Riley's new best (stuffed) friend, Pinky the bear. Sorry Zelf. (And thanks, Grandma!)
  
• Our eighth anniversary!

Whew.

So. If you don't hear from me for a few more weeks, don't worry. We're either busy enjoying our precious final days of summer–or recovering from the past few weeks.

the birthday girls

the cupcakes

the mobile (in process)

the grandma and cousins

the birthday party #3

the pinky bear

The $100 Milestone

At the ripe age of two-and-three-quarters, Riley's milestones are now few are far between. So I guess it's worth mentioning her latest one: first ER visit.

After Riley spent Wednesday and Thursday puking with a 104-degree fever, the pediatrician sent her to the hospital to get rehydrated. Of course by the time she was seen (after three hours of waiting), the fever was gone and the puking had ceased. Still, milestone nonetheless, right?

The Girl Who Cried Wolf

Today was our first major excursion since potty training began: church.

Riley learned a surefire way to avoid the *boring* hour. Whenever she yelled "Potty!" we made a mad dash to the restroom.

Out of the seven times she yelled "Potty!", seven instances were false alarms. (And I'm just not ready to call her bluff.)

New Topic

Raise your hand if you used the potty successfully SEVEN times today.

Raise your hand if you think that's cause for celebration.

Not pictured: Me, Matt

Developmental Explosion

In the past few weeks, Riley has:

• learned to open doors
• taught herself to somersault
• pooped in the toilet
• figured out how to open the fridge
• learned about a billion new words
• shown an avid interest in cooking and dish washing
• learned to use her bubble gun (pictured below. sort of.)
• mastered monster tantrums
• drawn a straight line, pointed to it, and said, "One!"
• figured out that daddy's cereal (Cocoa Puffs) tastes better than hers (Kashi Mighty Bites)
  
• developed a strong preference for clothing with sparkly embellishments
  
• become extremely particular about her diapers (Elmo Pampers vs. boring white slightly bulky cloth diapers...)
• gotten really fast

Part of me is sad she's growing up so fast. A bigger part of me is so relieved she won't be a toddler forever.

Riley's Birthday Bash: A Photo Essay

The birthday girl.

The party goers.

The enthusiasm.
(A doll was inside, but based on Riley's excitement here, Santa may bring lots of crackers this Christmas...)

More enthusiasm.

More gifts. (Since Matt and I can't seem to share Rock Band.)

The cake.* And the vultures.

Going...

Going...

Almost gone. (Yep, every last crumb got consumed.)

With 40+ fun guests and one giddy girl, this party will be hard to top. Unless Riley's birthday falls during another family reunion!

*Made in a hotel kitchenette, thankyouverymuch.

Doooooo!

That's how Riley says two. And that's how old she turned today.

Happy birthday to Miss Riley!

(And congratulations to Matt and me for surviving two years of parenthood!)

Stay tuned for a full family reunion/birthday celebration update.

Sometimes a Girl Just Needs Chocolate

Ok, I'm giving you a candid peek into the disaster zone we call "the kitchen." Please ignore the disorganized cupboards and crumb-strewn counters, and just focus on the kid, will ya?

Here's the monkey's newest trick: While I was preoccupied elsewhere this afternoon, Riley pushed her high chair into the kitchen, used it to climb onto the counters, and successfully raided (and depleted) my chocolate-chip stash.

Note to self: Find new hiding place. Possibly under padlock.

In other monkey-related news, within the past week, Riley wriggled herself out of the jogging stroller, learned to climb out of her crib, and successfully reached into our highest toiletry-filled bathroom drawer. (Which is why she smells like men's deodorant.)

Something tells me the child-proofing has just begun...

Yes, No, Maybe So...

Riley's favorite words right now are "no!" and "yeah" accompanied by a vigorous head nod. I prefer the latter.

Riley has "no!" totally mastered, but she's still nailing down the proper usage for "yeah."

For example:

Me: Good morning! Did you sleep well?

Riley: Yeah.

Me: Are you hungry?

Riley: Yeah.

Me: What would you like for breakfast?

Riley: Yeah.

***

Me: We had a fun day, didn't we?

Riley: Yeah.

Me: Are you tired?

Riley: Yeah.

Me: Are you ready for bed?

Riley: Yeah. No. Noooo!

***

Me: Daddy got a hair cut! Do you like it Riley?

Riley: Yeah.

Matt: Does daddy look goofy?

Riley: Yeah.

So Close, Yet So Far Away

These days, Riley tries her darndest to dress herself. But here's what usually happens instead:

Yes, I'm slightly negligent grabbing my camera instead of immediately saving her. But hey, meanwhile she mastered waddling.

Most Random Milestone Ever

Yesterday, Riley learned to climb in and out of the bathtub.

I didn't think much about it until this evening, when, moments after I started running the water for Riley's bath, I found this:

Reminder to self: don't turn your back for even a second.

The Riley Lexicon

The girl seems to learn a new word (or two) every day. But sometimes translation is necessary.

A few favorite examples:

meyer: water (also: river, rain, bath, drinking fountain, juice, puddle...)

nyuk: milk

kwak-kwak: quack (also: duck)

muuuuuy: more

elmo: Elmo (also: I'd rather wear a disposable diaper, OR let's go for a walk, OR please let me play on the Sesame Street web site, please please please! [Warning: take it from me, if you haven't shown your kid that site, don't start...])

op-koh: popcorn

appie: apple

ah-bub: lightbulb (also: turn the light on/off)

aaaaye: eye (also: sunglasses)

buh-ted: busted

teeeeee: teeth (also: toothbrush)

pete-ta: pizza (also: Pete [our neighbor's name])

Riley in meyer-boots.

Slow Down, Child!

See these wellies?

This little girl put them on all by herself. On the right feet, no less!

Riley, we've discussed this already: Growing up so fast? Against the rules!

Can You Say, "Verbosity"?

Before our Christmas trip, Riley's vocabulary pretty much consisted of: daddy, uh-oh, ouch...and an occasionally mommy.

But then she was surrounded by five other little people, four of whom could speak.

Not to be totally upstaged, she suddenly whipped all these new words out of nowhere:

• night night (with accompanying wave)
• bye bye (also with a wave)
• doggy
• Elmo
• grandma
• ashes (as in, "we all fall...")
• down

Nothing like a little peer pressure to expedite those milestones! (Thanks Shea, Alex, Cody, and Will!)

Thought bubble: "How do I say the name of that annoying red guy whose face is on my stroller?"

Watch What You Say...

Riley's had this comprehension explosion, where she suddenly understands nearly everything—not just the basics like "no" and "come here."

Here are a few of the surprising/amusing things she understands (and actually obeys!):

• Get me a diaper, please


• Spit out your pacifier


• Please throw that away


• Shimmy those shoulders


• Where's the remote?


• We're taking the elevator, not the stairs

...I wanted to post a photo of her shimmying her shoulders, but I haven't had my camera handy. Instead, here's another one of her after ransacking the Christmas tree. She still doesn't obey: "Quit eating all the cookies off the tree."

Pajama Mystery Solved?

Remember last week when Riley's pajamas were halfway undone?

Well here's how she looked this morning:

It seems our little Houdini has learned to undress herself.

Not exactly a brag-worthy milestone, but hey, we'll take it!

Let's hope she doesn't figure out the diaper, too... (Unless she's near that new toy.)